"I believe now is the time to bow out," the former England captain said in a statement. "I will always remain a passionate England fan."

The 31-year-old, who netted his milestone 200th Premier League goal on Monday night, said he told Southgate his decision in a phonecall.

"It was great Gareth Southgate called me this week to tell me he wanted me back in the England squad for the upcoming matches. I really appreciated that," Rooney said.

"However, having already thought long and hard, I told Gareth that I had now decided to retire for good from international football.

Wayne Rooney never played beyond the quarter-finals of a major tournament. Credit: PA

"It is a really tough decision and one I have discussed with my family, my manager at Everton and those closest to me. Playing for England has always been special to me. Every time I was selected as a player or captain was a real privilege and I thank everyone who helped me."

Rooney said his international career showed "dreams can come true" as he tweeted a link to his full statement.